U.S. District Judge Robert Cleland temporarily blocked implementation of a requirement that most employers provide birth control coverage at no cost to employees as part of health insurance plans, ruling it may infringe on the religious rights of Weingartz Supply Co., a Michigan-based seller of outdoor power equipment.

In his Oct. 31 decision, Cleland said Weingartz, a company with more than 170 employees and stores in Utica, Farmington Hills, Cedar Springs and Clarkston - showed "some" likelihood of winning at trial, though not a "strong" likelihood.

"I thought it was good news that at least one judge saw fit the way of the enactment of law," said Kennedy in an online interview with the Acton Institute on Friday, Nov. 2, to discuss perspective on the health care mandate.

He added, "It’s exactly what we are asking for right now, which is don’t force us to comply with the mandate while the lawsuit is being heard," Kennedy said.

Kennedy added that it was urgent he get a decision, or else he would have to make one of three choices he said weren't good options for either his employees, his company or himself.

"I clearly can’t cancel the insurance because there is no (health care) exchange even set up for the employees so we would leave them all without any health care insurance," Kennedy said. "That makes no sense. That would violate my sense of social justice."

The second option of paying a $24 million penalty for not complying with the law wasn't something his Grand Rapids auto supply company could afford.

"So that leaves with complying with the mandate, which I’m not going to do," Kennedy said. "So we have to have the injunctive relief, which would prevent us from having to change our plans until the lawsuit is heard."

Kennedy noted President Obama has already made exceptions for "religious organizations" and other organizations.

"So why do I have to change and violate my religious liberties when these other people were granted an exemption by the Obama Administration?," Kennedy said. "I apparently wasn’t one of those friends I guess."

Kennedy says he isn't trying to impose his religious beliefs on his 680 employees but believes they should pay for contraception out of their own pockets or through their own health care savings accounts.

Beyond conflicts with his religious beliefs, Kennedy says the Affordable Care Act is flawed because it is more costly for employers and the employees.